JEFFERSON CITY — At the same time Missouri regulators are working to launch a recreational marijuana program, hundreds of lawsuits tied to the 2019 rollout of medical cannabis remain in legal limbo.
Of the more than 880 lawsuits from companies that failed to get a limited number of licenses to grow, transport and sell medical marijuana, 430 of them are still winding their way through the state’s Administrative Hearing Commission process.
Mary Erickson, a spokeswoman for the AHC, said the remaining cases are in various stages of litigation.
“Some cases are pending decisions after hearings while some cases have been set for hearing,” Erickson said.
The crush of cases has required the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services to hire private, outside lawyers at a cost of more than $10.2 million, including more than $700,000 since July 1.
And at the AHC, there is a job opening to fill an attorney opening that will focus largely on the medical marijuana cases. The temporary position, which can be performed remotely, pays up to $60,000.
“Ideal opportunity for experienced attorneys to continue practicing law in the short term and receive state benefits,” the job posting says.
As part of the licensing process to launch the state’s legalized medical marijuana program, the state received 2,266 marijuana business applications filed by at…
